Christmas Tree

Here's an activity that will get you and your child into the holiday spirit. With a little bit of help and imagination, your child can magically transform a simple magazine into a miniature Christmas tree that will bring holiday cheer to any room in the house. Kids will experience a sense of accomplishment and you will feel good about recycling and reusing materials gathered from around the house. And when the holidays are over, gently tuck your magazine Christmas tree into a box and save for next year, and many years to come.
This activity helps build your child’s fine motor skills, focus, creativity, and attention to detail.

What You Do:

Beginning with the first page after the magazine cover, have your child fold the top right corner of the page over so the top edge of the page rests along the spine and forms a triangle. This creates the branches of the tree.

Then have your child fold the bottom right corner in to create another, smaller triangle. The upper edge of the small triangle should be flush with the lower edge of the large triangle. This creates the base of the tree.

Repeat steps 1 and 2 with each page of the magazine until all the pages are folded.

Once the folding is done, help your child thoroughly coat the magazine with spray paint and allow it to dry overnight. Be sure to spray the magazine over old newspapers or a drop cloth to avoid a mess.

Apply a second coat of spray paint if necessary.

Now the tree is ready to decorate! Have your child use her imagination to embellish the tree with the small decorations; it can be as realistic or as stylized as she wants.

 

Christmas carols

 

Christmas is near, so I encourage children to listen this Christmas carols and sing it!

I am sure that they will love it!

And… MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Glogster activity

How I said in other publications, TIC’S are very important for children.

An enjoying application is Glogster, which is for do virtual murals. It is useful to work the reading after children have read a book. They will have to create the poster with sentences from the story, pictures, songs, characters, the title of the book, and whatever they want.

This is an example of a poster that twelve-year-old children did after they read “The three musketeers”.

If the teacher wants, pupils can expose their murals to the class.

http://almudenaescriba.edu.glogster.com/mosketeers/

Movie Marker activity

It's very important that children learn to work with TIC'S at the school. A good idea for this is the program Movie Marker. They can do a video with pictures and songs.

This is an example of a movie that children have done after they read the book “The Magician”. In this case, they have ordered cartoons basing on the reading and they have added a song of bottom.

Obviously, it can be done with another books or stories depending the pupils’ age.

Children enjoy a lot with this nice activity. 

 

Sparkling Crystals

Get your child excited about Earth science by showing him how to make borax crystals at home! Using just a few materials, your child can start his very own borax crystal collection. As the crystals form, he'll get to see the process of crystallization firsthand and will grow to better understand the formation and structure of crystalline rocks and minerals.

Note: Adult supervision is recommended during the steps involving boiling water. Also, be sure the Borax is not ingested.

What You Do:

Discuss with your child what shape he would like to create: A star, a heart, a spiral, a snowflake? Once he has decided, help him form his shape out of pipe cleaners, making sure it fits through the opening of the jar you're using.

While your child makes his pipe cleaner shape, bring a pot of water to boil.

Have your child knot one end of a length of string around the pipe cleaner shape and the other end around the pencil. Carefully lower the pipe cleaner shape into the jar, then lay the pencil across the rim of the jar. If the pipe cleaner touches the bottom of the jar, adjust the string so that the pipe cleaner hangs freely. Lift the pencil to remove the pipe cleaner shape from the jar, and then set it aside.

Carefully pour boiling water into the jar, filling it until it's about three-quarters full.

Have your child add borax to the water, one tablespoon at a time, stirring after adding each one is added. After 4 tablespoons have been added, check to see if the borax has begun to collect on the bottom of the jar. If not, have your child add more borax to the jar, one tablespoon at a time, until a small amount has collected on the bottom.

Explain to your child that hot water can hold more borax than cold water. The crystals will grow on the pipe cleaner as the water cools and begins to release the borax.

Have your child lower the pipe cleaner shape into the jar, laying the pencil on top as before. Make sure the pipe cleaner is fully submerged in the solution.

Using oven mitts, carefully move the jar to a safe place where it won't be disturbed.

Let the jar sit for 24 hours. Have your child periodically check the progress of his crystals to see how they are growing. Explain to your child that the borax molecules are attracted to each other even when they are in the water. First the molecules form small crystals and then larger ones as they attach themselves to the pipe cleaner. Once the pipe cleaner is covered in crystals, remove it from the solution.

Hang your crystal in a window and enjoy its sparkling beauty!

Andy Warhol-Inspired Prints

Pop artist, painter, printer, icon—the list goes on. Andy Warhol is an important figure in both American history and world art. Introduce your young child to this pop art legend by helping him create an everyday object print. Similar to Warhol’s famous soup can art, this art activity encourages him to turn a simple household item into a masterpiece. He'll explore the world of art and use basic artistic concepts such as shape, line, and space to design a meaningful piece of art in multiples.

What You Do:

Begin by discussing Andy Warhol as an artist. Show reproductions of his work to your child in books or web images. If you are lucky enough to have a museum nearby with one of his works, take a family art viewing field trip. Talk about the frequent use of everyday objects as subjects for his art.

Introduce the concept of printing and creating multiple images. Compare the process to using a stamp and ink pad.

Help him find a suitable and appropriate object for the subject matter. Does he have a favorite food such as soup, yogurt, or cereal? Is there a favorite toy that can be used?

Have him use a wooden stylus, a tooth pick, or even a craft stick to draw an image of the object on scratch foam or styrofoam. If he is using a styrofoam plate or tray, you may need to first cut the sides to make it flat. Make sure that your child is using enough pressure to see the image in the styrofoam. If he is struggling to draw what he sees, point out shapes and lines in the object that may be easier to recreate.

Use a roller or brayer to roll paint across the styrofoam plate. If you don't have one available, he can simply use a paint brush to cover the images. Young kids often want to press the paint down into the lines that have been etched into the plate. Explain to him that the print will not work if he does this. He should see the white etched lines after the paint has been applied.

Press a piece of construction paper down on top of the styrofoam plate. Have him press firmly across the entire piece of paper to transfer the painted print.

Pull the paper off and repeat multiple times.

Water experiment

Surface tension is one of water's most important properties. It's the reason that water collects in drops. It's also why water can travel up a plant stem, or get to your cells through the smallest blood vessels. Help your child understand surface tension by showing her how she can create a "skin" on the surface of water with this interesting surface tension experiment.

What You Do:

Fill a cup of water. Ask your child: “Do you think a paper clip will float in the water?” Drop one in the cup to find out. Since the paper clip is denser than the water, it will sink to the bottom of the cup.

Now find out if you can use surface tension to float the paper clip: Gently lay the paper clip flat on the surface of the water. This can be tricky—it may help to place a piece of paper towel slightly bigger than the paper clip in the water. Then lay the paper clip on top of it. In a minute or so, the paper towel will sink, leaving the paper clip floating on top of the water. Even though the paper clip is still denser than the water, the strong attraction between the water molecules on the surface forms a type of "skin" that supports the clip.

Now put a drop of dish soap in the water. This will bind with the water molecules, interfering with the surface tension. The paper clip will sink. The detergent disrupts the molecules and "breaks the tension.” You can try floating other things on top of the water if you want; pepper floats well until you add dish soap. Can you find any other lightweight items that will float?

What Happened?

Surface tension happens when hydrogen bonds are formed between water molecules. The bonds, which are formed when hydrogen atoms in one water molecule are attracted to oxygen atoms in another water molecule, create a strong and flexible film on the water’s surface.

Bubble Guppies Video

This is a funnny story for small children.

I hope that you like it!

Pretty Ritty craft

THE SURPRISE IS HERE!!

Do you remember Pretty Ritty story telling?

This is a cute craft for kids that you can make out of a recycled empty toilet paper roll. This nice little mouse was very easy to do and cheap! :)

 

Materials needed:

• toilet paper roll
•  White, grey or pink paper
• glue
• scissors
• black marker

Cut a toilet paper roll in half and wrap it with a grey colored piece of paper (I colored a White piece with a grey crayon).Then draw the mouse's face. Add some big ears, two Little feet and a tail to the back.

And you have a nice Pretty Ritty toy!

Pretty Ritty's bingo

 

Today we are going to see the story telling “Pretty Ritty” in the school about six-year-old children. This is a fantastic story in which they are going to learn new vocabulary.

When we have finished the story telling, we are going to do a post activity: Pretty Ritty's bingo, in which pupils will practice the vocabulary learnt before.

We will give to students a bingo and they must circle four cartoons. Then, we will name the drawings until the first child complete all drawings that he has circled and he says bingo.             

PS: Girls and boys, you will have a surprise soon…

Kinesthetic Painting

Dadaism and Surrealism were art eras during which traditional ideas about art were challenged. However, the artwork artists generated during these movements was still considered representational art. You could see what the art was and what materials were used. Many artists used random objects and recyclables. When abstract expressionism followed, it challenged traditional methods and techniques of art-making. The artists descibed as abstract expressionists seemed to be more free, and the art they created wasn’t always representational. In fact, many abstract paintings looked nothing like their titles.
One of the better known types of abstract painting is a method that uses the whole body to paint. Introduce your preschooler to abstract art with this activity that will have her splatter, drip, and drizzle to create a complex painting. This activity is the perfect way to engage your kinesthetic learner and spark her interest in art history!

What You Do:

Explain to your preschooler that throughout history, there have been many different movements and styles of painting that were popular. Discuss how Dadism and Surrealism were uniquely radical and how these two movements led to Abstract Expressionism. A good way to start the discussion is by showing your child some samples of artwork from these eras.

As she looks at the art samples, have her express her opinions on the artwork. Then discuss how she will be making an abstract piece of artwork that involves applying paint by splattering and using various body movements to create unexpected designs on the canvas.

Lay the canvas on the floor. Have her stand over the canvas and apply paint by splattering, dripping, and drizzling paint on it. Go over how in order to apply paint, she doesn’t have to actually touch the canvas with the paintbrush, spoon, or popsicle sticks.

Encourage her to experiment with her body movements. Is she able to get more paint on the canvas if she stands over it and flings the paint? How about if she squats down closer to the canvas?

Ask her to tell you more about her painting and what she thinks about the abstract art she's creating.

Turkey Napkin Rings

Get ready for Thanksgiving by enlisting your child's help! In this activity, you'll work together to create some adorable turkey napkin rings. These easy-to-make table adornments will give you child a chance to make a memorable statement at the dinner table, and help her feel that she played an important role in the preparations for the big event!

What You Do:

Set a dish with brown tempera on the table and have your child dip her thumb in the paint and test her thumbprint on the newspaper. When she's happy with the quality of the print, have her press her brown thumbprint in the center of each of the strips of construction paper. These will be the turkey bodies.

Repeat the process with brown paint using her first finger this time. Stamp directly over the brown thumbprint to create the turkey's head.

Set out the other colors of tempera paint. They'll be used to create the feathers. Have her use her pinky finger to create four different color prints above the turkey's head. Make sure to have her wipe her pinkys off when she's transitioning between colors.

Help her glue two small googly eyes on the head of each turkey to give them personalities. Allow the paint and glue to dry completely.

Help her roll the napkins by wrapping the napkin rings around the center of the napkins and taping them in place.

Multiple Intelligences

 

We have chosen Brown Bear’s book to work Multimple Intelligences. The autor is Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carle.

Our activities are designed for 5 year-old children. The book seems to be easy but the activities are more appropriate for the mentioned age.

This book works the order of questions in English, animals and colours.

 

ACTIVITIES:

 

- VISUAL

 

LOOKING FOR THINGS

To develop the visual intelligence, we are going to play. The teacher says a color and children have to look for something with that color quickly.

 

 

- INTRAPERSONAL

MY FAVOURITE ANIMAL

Children have to think what is their favourite animal. Then, they will explain why they have chosen that animal. Finally they will describe it at class.

 

- MUSICAL

MUSICAL VIDEO

To develop musical intelligence we can show children a video with Brown bear’s story. This video is excellent because the story is told singing.

Then, children can sing the song!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ek7j3huAApc

 

 

-  INTERPERSONAL

 

PECULIAR ANIMALS

Children have to work in groups of 4 to create a peculiar animal. They will draw their own animal with colours and a piece of paper. Then they have to shape it with modelling clay.

Finally, all the groups show and explain their classmates their peculiar animal.

 

- BODILY

 

ANIMALS MASKS

Children have to create animal masks using cardboards, papers, crayons, etc. When the masks are finished, the children will dance with their own animal mask, and they can acting out each animal’s sound and/or action (a kangaroo can jumping, a tiger can running, etc.)

 

- LOGICAL-MATHEMATICAL

REMEMBER THE ORDER

The animals in Brown’s Bear book appear in a particular sequence. Children have  to remember the order of appearance of each animal. Then, they can playing in pairs saying an animal, and the partner have to say what animals appear in the book later.

 

 

- VERBAL-LINGUISTIC

 

DREAMING CHILD…WHAT DO YOU SEE?

After reading all the Brown Bear’s book, reread the last line in Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?: “Dreaming Child, Dreaming Child, what do you see?” Ask the children what they see in their dreams. Continue the book by having each child complete the sentence: I see ________.

 

 

 

- NATURALIST

 

CREATE OUR OWN BOOK

Children have to create their own version about book zoo animals. They describe other animals found at a zoo (giraffe, gorilla, tiger…). Children can work in pairs or individually. Distribute a piece of paper to each group for draw an animal of the zoo. When each group have chosen an animal and they have  worked at it, the teacher board all the works and we will have our own animals' book!

 

 

Listening activity

Hi teachers!

If you want to practice English listening with your small children and you don’t kwon how, I will go to propose you an activity.

Children love playing so it’s a good idea this game, the rules are:

- Put color rings scattered on the floor.

- Children are running around the rings and when the teacher says one color, all the children have to run and put into a ring. For example, the teacher says “red”, and each child put it into a red ring.

-When the children do this game quickly, the teacher can complicate it saying colors and numbers. For example: “three green”, and they only can put into a green ring three children.

The pupils love listenings with their teacher’s voice.

Halloween song

Today is Halloween!!!


This is a scary song that you can sing this night.

And remember... trick or treat? JAJAJAJAJAJA

Toy Story song

At the last publication I remembered my favourite tale when I was a child, so today I upload the film song “You’ve got a friend in me”.

I am sure that children will love it.

My favourite tale when I was a child.

My favourite tale when I was a child was Toy Story because I love the characters of the story. Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, Rex… are fantastic, but my favourite character is Mr Potato. When I was three years old, my parents give me a Mr Potato toy and I played hours with it putting and removing all its pieces.

This is a short summary of the tale:

A little boy named Andy loves to be in his room, playing with his toys, especially his doll named "Woody". But, what do the toys do when Andy is not with them, they come to life. Woody believes that he has life (as a toy) good. However, he must worry about Andy's family moving, and what Woody does not know is about Andy's birthday party. Woody does not realize that Andy's mother gave him an action figure known as Buzz Lightyear, who does not believe that he is a toy, and quickly becomes Andy's new favourite toy. Woody, who is now consumed with jealousy, tries to get rid of Buzz. Then, both Woody and Buzz are now lost. They must find a way to get back to Andy before he moves without them, but they will have to pass through a ruthless toy killer, Sid Phillips.

Here I left you the film’s trailer.

 

Funny patterns

 

Patterns can be found everywhere in nature, from the veins in a leaf to the skin of a lizard. Patterns also play an important role in fashion and clothing design. This activity allows your child to practice inventing her own patterns while creating a portrait of a pet. This pet could be based on an actual family pet, or it can be a completely fictitious animal your child would enjoy cuddling with.

What You Do:

Help your child draw the outline of her pet using a pencil. Make sure she keeps the details to a minimum. Encourage her to draw the outline of the pet as large as possible so that it fills the page.

Help her to trace the pencil outline with a marker so it's easy to see.

Section off parts of the pet using a marker. We drew horizontal stripes across our animal, leaving a couple of inches between the lines.

See how many patterns she can name. Some of them may be: zig-zags, polka dots, plaid, stripes, argyle, diamonds and geometric.

Ask your child to design a different pattern for each section of her pet. She can use as many colors as she likes, but each section must be completely unique. 

When she finishes, hang up her patterned pet portrait for family and friends to enjoy!

Pinecone People

Who knew that nature could get so crafty? Show your kid how to collect and morph pine cones into a whole team of personalized pine cone people. He'll use craft materials such as pipe cleaners, yarn, and paint to personalize his pint-sized, plant-like friends. This project will inspire the nature investigator in him, while also prompting size, color, and shape comparison. For an extra lesson in self-awareness, encourage him to complete a mini pinecone of the self-portrait variety.

What You Do:

Embark on a pinecone-collecting adventure. Accompany your child outdoors to find pinecones in a variety of shapes and sizes. Ask him to compare the sizes to the members of your family. For example, the tall pinecone might be Dad's and the very smallest might be used for her baby brother.

Once he's gathered all of the pinecones, help him bend a pipe cleaner around the back, weaving it in between sections of the pinecone for stability. Leave the two sides of the pipe cleaner sticking out as arms.

Ask her to glue down the wiggly eyes on the front of the pinecone.

Help her add hair with cut yarn and glue, using a variety of colors for a fun touch.

Assist her in dressing the pine cones in their finest attire. She can cut scraps of fabric and glue them to the pine cone, or use tempera paints to paint on an outfit. Try wrapping the fabric all the way around the pinecone. This will cover up the pipe cleaner on the back that is connecting the arms.